Saturday, September 19, 2009

Dew

I am a morning person. I usually get up about 5;00 a. m. In the fall and spring in West Texas, almost every morning, dew forms on the ground, and as the sun dawns, the dew glistens in the sun. I love to walk on the soft grass in my bare feet and enjoy the wet dew exuding a special freshness in the air.

Dew is condensation of water vapor from air cooled by contact with ground or objects which have lost sufficient heat by radiation during the night. This occurs chiefly during clear, calm night when temperature drops markedly and the air is moist. Dew is important for vegetation, and this was certainly the case in Israel, because at its maximum Palestine experiences almost four rainless months of summer.

The Bible makes many references to dew in various contexts. Here are a few of them.

I. Judges 6:36-40 relates the story of Gideon proposing the so-called "fleece test." God had instructed Gideon to lead the Israelites in battle against the Midianites, but Gideon did not want to do this. So, Gideon proposes to God a test. (a) I will lay a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew on the fleece, but not on the ground, I will know that you [God] will deliver Israel. That night, it occurred. But, (b) Gideon said, maybe this would happen this way anyway, and is not really a sign of God. So, Gideon proposes: I will lay a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew on the ground, but not on the fleece, I will know that you [God] will deliver Israel. That night, it happened again. Now, Gideon cannot doubt that God is with Gideon and the Israelites, and Gideon must lead his people in battle.

II. 2 Samuel 17:12 relates the advice of Hushai to Absalom when Absalom desires to know how to pursue and kill his father David. Hushai says that all the Israelites are to gather together, "so we shall come upon him in whatever place he may be found, and we shall light on him AS THE DEW FALLS ON THE GROUND; and he shall not survive, nor will any of those with him." If you remember this story, Hushai is attempting to give David ample time to escape. In doing this, Hushai uses a very striking simile: an army descending on an enemy like the dew falls on the ground.

III. Hoses 6:4 compares the quickly evaporating "love" of God's people to God with "dew" that is here for a brief time, and then vanishes. "What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? What shall I do with you, Judah? Your love is like a morning cloud, LIKE THE DEW THAT GOES AWAY EARLY."What a powerful figure of "love." Many marriages end after a few years, because "love" is not steadfast, but evanescent.

IV. Micah 5:7 contains this promise concerning the way God's people should bless all nations on earth: "Then the remnant of Jacob, surrounded by many peoples, shall be LIKE DEW from the Lord, like showers on the grass."

V. Psalm 133 emphasizes the importance of unity among God's people. Verse 3 says: "It is LIKE THE DEW of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion. For there the Lord ordained his blessing, life forevermore."

Dew is yet another blessing of God, a special gift of God. I hope YOU enjoy and appreciate dew. It is refreshing, invigorating, uplifting. Early each morning, get out into the crisp, cool air, and walk on the wet grass of the dew.

How are YOU doing? God is around YOU everywhere. Just look!!! He daily reminds YOU of his presence, his love, his promises. Share these blessings with others. Let me hear from YOU.